Leadership and Administration in Nursing (M.S.N.)

Program On Hold

This program is currently not accepting applications. Applicants interested in this program are encouraged to apply to the Family Nurse Practitioner and/or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs.

M.S.N. Leadership and Administration in Nursing

Students learn to apply transformational leadership skills and evidence-based principles to manage complex healthcare systems.
a

Program Overview

Texas State's nationally recognized MSN-LAN program is designed for registered nurses who want to advance their nursing role in administration in nursing. The LAN program prepares students to develop leadership skills that promote ethical decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and human resource management within a healthcare systems perspective.

Course Work

The non-thesis MSN-LAN program is a combination of online course work and leadership practicum hours. Students complete practicum hours one-on-one with a preceptor in the state of Texas, in addition to on-campus simulations. Students engage in the application of evidence-based practice in their focus area in their capstone course. Some of the coursework students will take include:

  • Fostering Human Performance and Systems Thinking
  • Foundations of Leadership Practicum
  • Healthcare Finance and Strategic Management Foundations
DegreeHoursThesis OptionMinor Option
Degree
M.S.N.
Hours
30
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
No Minor

Online Availability

The majority of this program may be offered online with required on-campus learning experiences two weekends per semester at the St. David’s School of Nursing in Round Rock, Texas. Due to variation in the laws of states and regulations of state Boards of Nursing, admission for non-Texas residents may be limited at this time.

What Our Faculty Say

“The LAN program at Texas State University guides students to learn more about themselves as nurse leaders while growing their confidence and ability to passionately bring about positive change in the ever-evolving world of healthcare.”

— Dr. Theresa Garcia, Associate Professor

Program Details

The MSN-LAN program is designed to allow students to have work-school-life balance while achieving graduate education. Our LAN graduates make a difference in the delivery of healthcare and nursing, and ultimately in the quality of life of every patient.

Program Mission

Preparing the next generation of nurses to improve health care.

The St. David’s School of Nursing at Texas State University educates and prepares graduates using innovative teaching strategies and state-of-the-art technology. Graduates provide ethical, safe, and effective patient-centered care and contribute to present and emerging research and health management practices. Graduates demonstrate competence in clinical judgment, collaborate as members and leaders of interprofessional healthcare teams, and utilize scientifically-based interventions. As caring professional nurses, graduates manage illness; promote, maintain, and restore health; and provide end-of-life care for diverse individuals, families, populations, and global communities across the lifespan.

Career Options

LAN graduates are employed in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including multi-system healthcare entities, hospitals, nurse-managed clinics, public health organizations, government agencies, and even health policy positions. Graduates may qualify to apply to take one or more of the following national certification examinations as deemed eligible by the credentialing agencies (AONE or ANCC) after graduation. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue doctoral study as new graduates or later in their careers.

Program Faculty

St. David’s School of Nursing faculty are expert advanced nursing leaders and clinicians with diverse knowledge and skills they impart into their teaching. Faculty are highly active in research, service, and clinical practice and frequently present at local, national, and international conferences. Recognition and publication of faculty scholarship are evident in publications in professional journals, engagement in interprofessional scholarship and grantsmanship. Faculty often engage students in translational science capstone projects that result in faculty-student presentations and publications, which is an outstanding opportunity for graduate students prior to graduation.

Contact The Graduate College for general questions about getting started with your application, funding your degree, and more. If you have program-specific questions after reviewing the program details, we encourage you to contact the following individuals.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Kathy Smith
kss123@txstate.edu
512.716.4603
Nursing Building (NURS), Room 320

outside

Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?

Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall
U.S. Citizen
January 25 (*Flexible)
International
January 25 (*Flexible through June 1)

*A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

Funding Information
Applications must be complete by the deadline to be considered for certain types of funding.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a firm basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $55 nonrefundable application fee
      OR
    • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally-recognized nursing education accrediting body. Your B.S.N. degree must be reflected on your transcript when you apply. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses) (Effective Fall 2024: a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, plus any completed graduate courses)
    • minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in your nursing course work
    • grade of C or better in an upper-division statistics course. The course must be completed at the time of application and reflected on submitted transcripts.

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • current, valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Texas with date issued from the Board of Nursing uploaded into the application system. Multistate licenses are accepted as long as Texas is declared the home state.
    • professional essay and goals statements
    • resume/CV showing a minimum of one year full-time equivalent experience as a Registered Nurse prior to the application deadline. Employment will be verified.
    • three professional forms of recommendation from persons competent to assess the applicant’s academic capability, clinical expertise, and interest in pursuing a career for this program. This is a form completed by your identified reference as part of the application system.
    • interview

    *Please note once a student has been offered admission, additional criteria must be completed and met prior to admission and the required due dates as listed by the School of Nursing.

    Review important information about documents.

  • If you are an international applicant, you can apply to this program; however, please be aware that you must:

    • be available to complete certain degree requirements in the state of Texas
    • have a bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally-recognized nursing education accrediting body. Your B.S.N. degree must be reflected on your transcript when you apply.

Ready to Apply?

Need More Info?